obstinate.org

I happen to think that there are two modes of thought “all the way” or “not at all”, and half assed is just a way of up-selling the latter. Lets give some relevant examples. If you are sitting and enjoying some TiVO and decide that you would like a glass of wine, are you really wanting a glass of wine? or 17? If you are like me, a glass of wine does nothing to you, and instead you need to pull out 4 bottles in order for it to make the impact on your life you are hoping for. As such there is no point in having one glass, or even 2 or 3, it’s either 17 or nothing, balancing in the middle only ends up with getting fatter and no buzz.

So, I happen to take this philosophy toward the rest of my life. If I decide I am going to diet, that’s it – 100% no 70% or 80% – that’s it, 100%. If I decide give up something, sugar, video games, TV, people, whatever – that’s it. What’s the point with half way? 90% might as well be 0%. In consulting with friends this happens to be the way with “some people” (jerks?). As an example, my brain is literally rewired when I commit to something. If I decide that I am committed to a relationship – THAT_IS_IT. All women are then sub par, on every level to the one I am committed toward.

Anyways, someone way smarter than me once told me that life is just a long series of “waking up at 6am”. The implication is this – nothing will ever be harder than waking up at 6am – the simple act of doing what you know you need to do. I happen to think this is true, not many things in my life have been harder than getting out of bed, only there is no “snooze” button on life, if you snooze on life, you fail.